Switzerland Travel Health Insurance – Country Review

Learn more about Switzerland Travel Health Insurance with an overview from the CDC and the US State Department. Here we cover Vaccines, Medicines and Insurance.

At AardvarkCompare we have gone to great lengths to save our customers money on their travel insurance needs. You may be off on a business trip or away with family. Wherever your travels take you, packing travel insurance is an essential item to keep you and your holiday investment safe. What we prefer however is for our customers to not to need to call their travel insurer, and to have a relaxing and peaceful trip. The following advice should help you make the most of your trip to Switzerland.

Switzerland Travel Health – CDC

Vaccines and Medicines

Check the vaccines and medicines list and visit your doctor (ideally, 4-6 weeks) before your trip to get vaccines or medicines you may need.

Hepatitis A outbreaks occur throughout the world and sometimes in countries with a low risk for hepatitis A (including the US). You can get hepatitis A through contaminated food or water in Switzerland, so talk to your doctor to see if the hepatitis A vaccine is right for you.

You can get hepatitis B through sexual contact, contaminated needles, and blood products, so CDC recommends this vaccine if you might have sex with a new partner, get a tattoo or piercing, or have any medical procedures.

Rabies is present in bats in Switzerland. However, it is not a major risk to most travelers. CDC recommends rabies vaccine for only these groups:

Travelers involved in outdoor and other activities in remote areas that put them at risk for bat bites (such as adventure travel and caving).

People who will be working with or around bats (such as wildlife professionals and researchers).

Stay Healthy and Safe

Learn actions you can take to stay healthy and safe on your trip. Vaccines cannot protect you from many diseases in Switzerland, so your behaviors are important.

Eat and drink safely

Food and water standards in Switzerland are similar to those in the United States. Most travelers do not need to take special food or water precautions beyond what they normally do at home. However, travelers visiting rural or remote areas that are served by unregulated water sources such as private wells should take special precautions to ensure the safety of their drinking water.

Prevent bug bites

Although Switzerland is an industrialized country, bug bites here can still spread diseases. Just as you would in the United States, try to avoid bug bites while spending time outside or in wooded areas.

Be especially careful during summer months and at high elevation. Because sunlight reflects off snow, sand, and water, sun exposure may be increased during activities like skiing, swimming, and sailing.

Very cold temperatures can be dangerous. Dress in layers and cover heads, hands, and feet properly if you are visiting a cold location.

Stay safe around water

Swim only in designated swimming areas. Obey lifeguards and warning flags on beaches.

Do not dive into shallow water.

Avoid swallowing water when swimming. Untreated water can carry germs that make you sick.

Practice safe boating—follow all boating safety laws, do not drink alcohol if you are driving a boat, and always wear a life jacket.

Keep away from animals

Most animals avoid people, but they may attack if they feel threatened, are protecting their young or territory, or if they are injured or ill. Animal bites and scratches can lead to serious diseases such as rabies.

Follow these tips to protect yourself:

Do not touch or feed any animals you do not know.

Do not allow animals to lick open wounds, and do not get animal saliva in your eyes or mouth.

Avoid rodents and their urine and feces.

Traveling pets should be supervised closely and not allowed to come in contact with local animals.

If you wake in a room with a bat, seek medical care immediately. Bat bites may be hard to see.

All animals can pose a threat, but be extra careful around dogs, bats, monkeys, sea animals such as jellyfish, and snakes. If you are bitten or scratched by an animal, immediately:

Wash the wound with soap and clean water.

Go to a doctor right away.

Tell your doctor about your injury when you get back to the United States.

Reduce your exposure to germs

Follow these tips to avoid getting sick or spreading illness to others while traveling:

Wash your hands often, especially before eating.

If soap and water aren’t available, clean hands with hand sanitizer (containing at least 60% alcohol).

Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. If you need to touch your face, make sure your hands are clean.

Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when coughing or sneezing.

Try to avoid contact with people who are sick.

If you are sick, stay home or in your hotel room, unless you need medical care.

Avoid sharing body fluids

Diseases can be spread through body fluids, such as saliva, blood, vomit, and semen.

Protect yourself:

Use latex condoms correctly.

Do not inject drugs.

Limit alcohol consumption. People take more risks when intoxicated.

Do not share needles or any devices that can break the skin. That includes needles for tattoos, piercings, and acupuncture.

If you receive medical or dental care, make sure the equipment is disinfected or sanitized.

Know how to get medical care while traveling

Plan for how you will get health care during your trip, should the need arise:

Carry a card that identifies, in the local language, your blood type, chronic conditions or serious allergies, and the generic names of any medicines you take.

Bring copies of your prescriptions for medicine and for eye glasses and contact lenses.

Some prescription drugs may be illegal in other countries. Call Switzerland’s embassy to verify that all of your prescription(s) are legal to bring with you.

Bring all the medicines (including over-the-counter medicines) you think you might need during your trip, including extra in case of travel delays. Ask your doctor to help you get prescriptions filled early if you need to.

Many foreign hospitals and clinics are accredited by the Joint Commission International. A list of accredited facilities is available at their website (www.jointcommissioninternational.org).

Select safe transportation

Motor vehicle crashes are the #1 killer of healthy US citizens in foreign countries.

Walking

Be smart when you are traveling on foot.

Use sidewalks and marked crosswalks.

Pay attention to the traffic around you, especially in crowded areas.

Remember, people on foot do not always have the right of way in other countries.

Riding/Driving

Choose a safe vehicle.

Choose official taxis or public transportation, such as trains and buses.

Healthy Travel Packing List

Why does CDC recommend packing these health-related items?

It’s best to be prepared to prevent and treat common illnesses and injuries. Some supplies and medicines may be difficult to find at your destination, may have different names, or may have different ingredients than what you normally use.

After Your Trip

If you are not feeling well after your trip, you may need to see a doctor. If you need help finding a travel medicine specialist, see Find a Clinic. Be sure to tell your doctor about your travel, including where you went and what you did on your trip. Also tell your doctor if you were bitten or scratched by an animal while traveling.

Switzerland Travel Health – The US State Department

U.S.-SWITZERLAND RELATIONS

The United States established diplomatic relations with Switzerland in 1853 following the formation of a unified Swiss state. Switzerland is a democratic country subscribing to the fundamental ideals with which the United States also is identified. The country is politically stable with an essentially strong economy. It has played an increasingly important role in supporting the spread of democratic institutions and values worldwide, as well as providing humanitarian relief and economic development assistance. U.S. policy toward Switzerland takes these factors into account and seeks to cooperate with Switzerland to the extent consistent with Swiss neutrality.

The United States and Switzerland have signed a number of agreements creating mechanisms that deepen cooperation and improve the relationship: the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework, the Trade and Investment Cooperation Forum, and the revised Operative Working Arrangement on Law Enforcement Cooperation on Counterterrorism. The centerpiece of the Enhanced Political Cooperation Framework is an annual senior-level meeting, the Joint Working Group. Another vehicle for bilateral cooperation is the U.S.-Swiss Joint Economic Commission, which covers anti-money laundering efforts, counterterrorism, regulatory cooperation, and intellectual property rights, among other topics.

U.S. Assistance to Switzerland

The United States provides no development assistance to Switzerland.

Bilateral Economic Relations

Switzerland is a member of the European Free Trade Association, whose countries are significant markets for U.S. exporters and investors. The two countries have a long history of cooperation both bilaterally and within the World Trade Organization. The United States is one of the top destinations for Swiss investment and is one of the largest foreign investors in Switzerland. The United States and Switzerland have signed an agreement creating a trade and investment forum to assess areas where the two governments could facilitate greater trade and investment flows.

U.S. exports to Switzerland include gold, pharmaceutical products, art and antiques, optic and medical instruments, machinery, and agricultural products. U.S. imports from Switzerland include pharmaceutical products, optic and medical instruments, clocks and watches, machinery, jewelry and diamonds, and agricultural products. Per capita, Switzerland is among the countries with the most visitors to the United States every year. Switzerland participates in the Visa Waiver Program, which allows nationals of participating countries to travel to the United States for certain business or tourism purposes for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Switzerland’s Membership in International Organizations

Switzerland and the United States belong to a number of the same international organizations, including the United Nations, Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council, Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, and World Trade Organization. Switzerland is also a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) Partnership for Peace program and is an observer to the Organization of American States.

Bilateral Representation

Switzerland maintains an embassy in the United States at 2900 Cathedral Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; tel. (202) 745-7900.

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